FolioCorpusBhagavad-gītā

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 10.87.8

తస్మై హ్యవోచద్ భగవానృషీణాం శ‍ృ‍ణ్వతామిదమ్ । యో బ్రహ్మవాద: పూర్వేషాం జనలోకనివాసినామ్ ॥ ౮ ॥
tasmai hy avocad bhagavān
[tasmai hy avochad bhagavaan]
ṛṣīṇāṁ śṛṇvatām idam
[risheenaam shrinvataam idam]
yo brahma-vādaḥ pūrveṣāṁ
[yo brahma-vaadah poorveshaam]
jana-loka-nivāsinām
[jana-loka-nivaasinaam]
tasmai — to him hi — indeed avocat — spoke bhagavān — the Supreme Lord ṛṣīṇām — the sages śṛṇvatām — as they listened idam — this yaḥ — which brahma — about the Absolute Truth vādaḥ — discussion pūrveṣām — ancient jana - loka - nivāsinām — among the inhabitants of Janaloka .
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
tasmai hy avocad bhagavān
tasmai
to him
hi
indeed
avocat
spoke
bhagavān
the Supreme Lord
ṛṣīṇāṁ śṛṇvatām idam
ṛṣīṇām
the sages
śṛṇvatām
as they listened
idam
this
yaḥ
which
yo brahma-vādaḥ pūrveṣāṁ
brahma
about the Absolute Truth
vādaḥ
discussion
pūrveṣām
ancient
jana-loka-nivāsinām
jana - loka - nivāsinām
among the inhabitants of Janaloka .
  • bhagavān — the Supreme Lord
    From bhaga (six opulences: aiśvarya, vīrya, yaśas, śrī, jñāna, vairāgya) + matup. Defined by Parāśara at Viṣṇu Purāṇa 6.5.47; cited at the head of CC. Bhagavān ≠ 'God' generically — it is a precise theological term for the full Person.
  • brahma-vādaḥ — discussion about the Absolute Truth
    Compound: brahma (the Absolute) + vāda (discussion, position). The sages at Janaloka were brahma-vādins. Gauḍīyas note: the true brahma-vāda culminates in Bhagavān, not in nirguṇa-brahman as final.
  • jana-loka-nivāsinām — among the inhabitants of Janaloka
    Compound: Janaloka + nivāsin. The fifth planetary system, residence of Brahmā's mental sons. The chapter's source-conversation occurred at a level of the cosmos higher than svarga — these are not human seminars.
  • śṛṇvatām — as they listened
    Genitive plural participle of √śru. Śravaṇa — the first limb of bhakti (SB 7.5.23). Even the highest brahma-vāda begins with hearing. The chapter is presented to us as one long śravaṇa across nested narrators.
As the sages listened, Lord Nārāyaṇa Ṛṣi related to Nārada an ancient discussion about the Absolute Truth that took place among the residents of Janaloka.
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
As the sages listened, Lord Nārāyaṇa Ṛṣi related to Nārada an ancient discussion about the Absolute Truth that took place among the residents of Janaloka.
Commentary

He (bhagavan), seated among the rsis spoke, to Narada(tasmai) this,topic, which was previously discussed among the residents of Janaloka

Jīva Gosvāmī Gauḍīya
Commentary

The other sages listened with attention (the phrase should be in the locative rather than the possessive case). An ancient discussion to determine the truth (vāda), rather than jalpa or vitaṇḍa took place concerning the Vedas (brahma). Janaloka means the planet above Maharloka. It may also be called Janoloka.

Śrīdhara Svāmī Gauḍīya
Commentary

He builds up Parīkṣit’s enthusiasm. The omniscient lord, or the Lord full of mercy (bhagavān) spoke this topic while the sages listened. This indicates that they were eager to hear the spiritual topic, being all of the same temperament. This (idam) topic indicates that it was present visibly at all times in Nārāyana’s heart. Or idam refers to brahmavādaḥ, a topic of discussion to discern the truth. Vādo vivadatām aham: among types of argumentation I am vāda, which delivers the truth (BG 10:32) Among methods like vitaṇḍā and jalpa, vāda is a great vibhūti of the Lord since it is about the Lord. This is all explained by Śrīdhara Svāmī. Janaloka means the planet above Maharloka. It may also be called Janoloka.

Related values
Nyaya (Justice / Righteous Judgment)Daya (Compassion / Mercy)Vairagya (Detachment / Dispassion)Apaishunam (Non-slander)Kritajnata (Gratitude)Discriminative WisdomAsteya (Non-stealing / Honesty)Tapas (Austerity / Discipline)Pratijna (Vow-keeping / Sacred Resolve)Abhaya (Fearlessness)Satya (Truthfulness)Seva (Service / Selfless Action)
Related verses
Concepts
Jiva

Nārāyaṇa does not invent an answer; He remembers a Janaloka conversation older than the question. Truth in Bhāgavatam is always remembered, never manufactured — like a song the universe has been singing forever, and we step in mid-verse.

📝 My note

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